Interstate 40's time in California is spent entirely in the Mojave Desert. The cities of Needles, Ludlow and Barstow are connected by this interstate. Accommodations are scarce along this highway, so plan to stay in Needles or Barstow if necessary. Attractions in addition to the beautiful Mojave Desert include the Mitchell Caverns State Reserve, Amboy Crater, the Calico Mountains and Lake Havasu which is located near I-40 on the Arizona/California state line.
Be aware that all motorists will be stopped at a California Border Inspection Station when they enter California and will be inspected to make sure they are not bringing unwanted plants into the state. The Mojave Desert is an amazingly beautiful, yet desolate area. In driving through the desert, travelers should always make sure to have a full tank of gas and food and drink. In addition, they should prepare for hot weather during the day and cold weather at night.
Please share with other drivers your experiences as to which exits are best for single travelers or anyone for that matter. Reasons for the choice may include the safety of the surrounding area, the availability of good hotels and restaurants or proximity to the interstate. Please make sure to give the exit number or a description of the location. For example, when I discuss I-40, I would recommend Exit 145 in Oklahoma City. Many hotels and restaurants were located at this exit and I felt safe in the area. This exit was very convenient for easily continuing west without the hassle of dealing with early morning rush hour traffic.
(Photo of Mojave Desert taken in 2011)
Friday, November 30, 2012
Monday, November 26, 2012
On the Road: Hotel Availability & Sporting Events
No Vacancy in Red (Photo credit: Lomo-Cam) |
Be aware of sporting events, holidays and other special events that can hinder the chances of finding a room. One way to avoid this situation is to check online to see if any rooms are available. If all the rooms are booked at most hotels, a special event is being held that will probably affect the vacancy at all hotels. Another option is to make a reservation, but if only a few rooms are available, the price will be high. The last option is to stay at a hotel in a smaller town that will not be affected by the event.
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Friday, November 23, 2012
Your Favorite Interstate Exits: I-40 in Arizona
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The Tepees in Petrified Forest National Park in northeastern Arizona, United States. View is toward the northwest from the main park road. (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
Arizona has shut down some of its rest areas. In particular, the rest area west of Flagstaff is closed. My favorite place for gas on this stretch is Exit 9, which is the exit for Lake Havasu. I like to fill up the tank before I enter California and the Mojave Desert. Some of the beautiful attractions along this route include the Petrified Forest National Park, the Painted Desert, Meteor Crater, Sunset Crater, the Walnut Canyon National Monument, Lake Havasu and the Grand Canyon National Park.
Please share with other drivers your experiences as to which exits are best for single travelers or anyone for that matter. Reasons for the choice may include the safety of the surrounding area, the availability of good hotels and restaurants or proximity to the interstate. Please make sure to give the exit number or a description of the location. For example, when I discuss I-40, I would recommend Exit 145 in Oklahoma City. Many hotels and restaurants were located at this exit and I felt safe in the area. This exit was very convenient for easily continuing west without the hassle of dealing with the early morning rush hour traffic.
Tuesday, November 20, 2012
On the Road: Hotel Ratings
Tripadvisor Nantucket (Photo credit: stevegarfield) |
When I read the ratings for hotels, I pay particular attention to the negative ones. They give me an idea of what problems travelers may have encountered at a particular hotel. For example, I was considering several hotels in one city and looked over the ratings. I found that some of the hotels were located near a train track and the reviewers felt the trains disrupted a good night's sleep. I would not have known how close the train tracks were to the hotel had I not read about it in the reviews. I do realize that some negative reviews can be written by rival staff from another hotel, but I also feel that sometimes a few of the good ratings are written by the hotel's employees. They are just one source of information. Reading the reviews on several sites gives me a variety of additional input that assists me in making a good decision about lodging.
Friday, November 16, 2012
Your Favorite Interstate Exits: I-40 in New Mexico
English: All Images used are from Wikipedia Commons. (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
Please share with other drivers your experiences as to which exits are best for single travelers or anyone for that matter. Reasons for the choice may include the safety of the surrounding area, the availability of good hotels and restaurants or proximity to the interstate. Please make sure to give the exit number or a description of the location. For example, when I discuss I-40, I would recommend Exit 145 in Oklahoma City. Many hotels and restaurants were located at this exit and I felt safe in the area. This exit was very convenient for easily continuing west without the hassle of dealing with early morning rush hour traffic.
Tuesday, November 13, 2012
On the Road: Hotel Discount Coupon Books
Traveling to Florida in the 90's, we would see billboards along I-95 for discount hotel rooms. When we would stop at the particular hotel, we were always told the discount rooms were gone. That is why I never paid attention to the hotel discount coupon books that were available at rest areas. I always thought they were just a gimmick to get people to stop at the hotel.
One year while driving to California, I decided to look at the books and try one of the coupons. It worked! I have used the Room Saver and Travel Buddy coupons with success every time since then. These coupons can also be obtained online. Since some of the rest areas on certain interstates have been closed, finding the coupon books has been a little more challenging, so the online option is a big plus.
Of course, one can always book reservations online. I do not like to do this because I do not want to be held to a certain destination. If I am tired, I will stop early. If I am feeling great, I will continue for as long as I can. In any event, if the decision to make a reservation is made, travelers should make sure to carefully check the details of the cancellation policy of the hotel in case their plans change.
(Photo taken in 2012)
One year while driving to California, I decided to look at the books and try one of the coupons. It worked! I have used the Room Saver and Travel Buddy coupons with success every time since then. These coupons can also be obtained online. Since some of the rest areas on certain interstates have been closed, finding the coupon books has been a little more challenging, so the online option is a big plus.
Of course, one can always book reservations online. I do not like to do this because I do not want to be held to a certain destination. If I am tired, I will stop early. If I am feeling great, I will continue for as long as I can. In any event, if the decision to make a reservation is made, travelers should make sure to carefully check the details of the cancellation policy of the hotel in case their plans change.
(Photo taken in 2012)
Friday, November 9, 2012
Your Favorite Interstate Exits: I-40 in Oklahoma and Texas
Tenkiller Ferry Lake and dam. (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
Please share with other drivers your experiences as to which exits are best for single travelers or anyone for that matter. Reasons for the choice may include the safety of the surrounding area, the availability of good hotels and restaurants or proximity to the interstate. Please make sure to give the exit number or a description of the location. For example, since I am discussing I-40 in Oklahoma, I would recommend Exit 145 in Oklahoma City. Many hotels and restaurants were located at this exit and I felt safe in the area. This exit was very convenient for easily continuing west without the hassle of dealing with early morning rush hour traffic.
Tuesday, November 6, 2012
Preparation: Packing List Update
(Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
This year I became the proud owner of an iPad and an iPhone 5. These devices have helped me to become even more organized than I already was. A month ago my daughter showed me how she used her iPhone to keep her grocery list. She did not have to write down the items she needed on a piece of paper. She listed them on her iPhone and was able to check them off as she shopped.
I decided to use this technology for my packing list. A few weeks ago I took the time to type my lists into the Reminders section of the iPad. The list has a small box in front of each item, so I was able to click on the box for each article as I packed it. For example, I had the new packing list for Baltimore ready to use on the iPad. As I packed each article, I checked the box and the item disappeared from that list and reappeared on the Completed section list. When I was finished with my packing, I was able to click the objects back onto the original list. The list was then ready for the next time I had to pack.
Since I have a MacBook, the iPad and the iPhone, my lists are available on each device. If I am running errands and want to check to see if I need anything for the trip while I am out, I just check the phone. When I complete the task, I check it off and that action appears on all three devices.
If I am able to do this, anyone in the world should be able to handle it. (Those who know me would completely agree with that statement!)
Friday, November 2, 2012
Your Favorite Interstate Exits: I-40 in Arkansas
English: Aerial view of the Hernando de Soto Bridge across the Mississippi River between Memphis, Tennessee and West Memphis, Arkansas, USA. The bridge was opened in 1973 and carries six lanes of Interstate-40 across the river. View is from the Arkansas side to the east-southeast across the river to Memphis. (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
Please share with other drivers your experiences as to which exits are best for single travelers or anyone for that matter. Reasons for the choice may include the safety of the surrounding area, the availability of good hotels and restaurants or proximity to the interstate. Please make sure to give the exit number or a description of the location. For example, when I discuss I-40, I would recommend Exit 145 in Oklahoma City. Many hotels and restaurants were located at this exit and I felt safe in the area. This exit was very convenient for easily continuing west without the hassle of dealing with early morning rush hour traffic.
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